Karaoke Forums

I was off last night due to a power problem at my venue, so I went out to play, drink, and sing!

I found a karaoke venue not too far from home to which I had never been.

The host was a nice guy and a good singer- after that I have to go a bit negative, but not completely.


BOOKS: At first glance, VERY nice. Spiral bound, color graphics on the front, and the TERRIFIC idea of a photo montage of that venue's singers on the inner cover!

Now, the bad news: It was printed in what looked like a 7 or 8 font in red on cream paper. Even the 21 year olds couldn't read it without extra light and/or magnification.

The cover just said karaoke - no company or host ID.

No mfr. numbers- no way to what know what version a song was, and he had some
VERY strange stuff.


SPEAKERS: Two on the floor in close quarters. If you were standing up, all you heard was the music- you couldn't hear yourself, and THAT didn't travel too far.

He only had about 5 singers.

Now, all that being said, he was good enough as a host that I actually enjoyed myself anyway!
He told me that this was his only venue and that he had no plans to expand. The people who DID sing seemed to have a good time, and there was nice crowd response from the bar.

I guess I'm posting this to remind us that it's different strokes for different folks. There really is no wrong or right, just different!

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

I'm curious.... You mention that the Kraoke books just said "Karaoke" on them... no mention of a company name. Is that really important? I host the occasional Karaoke show, and I don't have a "Company Name." My books just say "Artists" or "Titles" on the cover. I have my own business cards (made up several years ago from some internet site that is no longer in business), and it just says "Karaoke With Cueball" on them (along with my contact information (of course)). I don't consider that to be a Company Name, just a sentence/statement/phrase (probably, if I were to give myself a business name, it would be "Cueball's Karaoke"). I tend to go to many different shows, and I don't usually pay attention to the name of their company when I go out. I try to get the name of the KJ (so that I will remember whether I want to return to that show in the future or not).

Intersting... I think I'll start a new thread about your business names.....

Interesting Joe. I was at a little place next door to my condo this past weekend when I found out they were having karaoke there. The books did not have anything on front of them. The font was about a 7 or 8 and was double column so they were very hard to read. The KJ (and I use that loosely) had no personality at all. The only thing he did was say your name. I never new if I was up next or if he was wanting to talk to me about something.
I guess the owner realized that I might have something to do with karaoke somewhere else when she noticed how I was interacting with the crowd with it was my turn in the rotation. Someone there eventually mentioned to her that I do run a show every other weekend at a local pub here around Nashville and that I now have all of my own equipment. She pulled me outside and asked me to bring my gear when I come back to the condo the next time and she would be happy to book me for a few shows while I am there.
I was not attempting to steal the KJ's show as it is 450 miles from my home but only 1/4 mile from my condos. Since I did not pursue it and she pulled me off to discuss it with me when she heard it from someone else, I do not feel bad about it at all.

So, to follow up with your intitial post title, "Just Goes To Show..." you never know when you might be offered a chance to expand on your business by complete accident.

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Mongo ain't exactly a "who," he's more of a "what".

My books don't have my business name, just have "Karaoke" on them! To me, it's not about the ID of the karaoke company or host. In a more competitive metropolis, that might be a different situation with me.

I use to not put my company name on my books when I took my discs with me. The standard rule here was don't bring unless you're willing to share. So I found it easier than just memorizing what I had to bring a book with me and so that I wouldn't be threatening the show host with it I left the company name and info off the books. When asked why I have the books, I tell them it is so I can keep track of what I have in my personal collection.

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The Line Array Experiment is over. Nothing to see here. Move along.

I don't just do "bar nights" I do private parties as well. Not only do I have my company name "karaoke koyote entertainment" on my books, but my phone number, email, and web address!

In the middle it says, "Karaoke/ DJ hosting services for hire to private parties and functions as well as entertainment for local bars. Affordable rates! Email or call anytime!"

Promotion is the life blood of a KJ if he expects to get private jobs (which pay a LOT more that a bar night!!), and get opportunities elsewhere.

I never promote myself when I go to another KJ's show. I stay low key and sit at the bar. Of course I will say hello to the singers I know out of courtesy. I do use "Koyote" as my singing name, but I had that long before I KJ'd. Interestingly enough, when I give my name, if I don't already know the KJ they'll ask me if I'm the "karaoke koyote", smile, and shake my hand.

I have gotten job offers at other KJ's shows, usually from the KJs themselves, who will call me with jobs they can't fill, or if they want a night off.

I think marketing is a skill that, regardless of how good a host they are, a lot of KJs lack.

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Good music, good friends, howling good times!

I have something similar to that on my rules page.

I wanted a simple cover page that said it all.

"KARAOKE Song Book"

marketing is one thing, excessive spam is another. It turns some people's stomach!

"I don't LIKE SPAM!!!"

...
"spam, spam, spam, spam, spammmmmmmm"

Hey Spam is OK if you fry it and throw in some canned hash....



OHHHH not that SPAM

New singers at my shows do not know my company name. However those that have hired me or those looking for party hosts is presented with it initially. It pertains more to private parties.

I do have a Welcome page in the books that has the company name. I also make business type slips with promos on them. People usually use the back for requests.

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Most shows in the area have their company names on their books


And.. many shows list their schedule in the books.


But, you're observation is so right "different strokes" which some of us have been saying for quite awhile when it comes to decisions, for example, like filler music!

Our books have the name, contact info and venue schedule on them. It just makes good business sense. People will know who we are, where to find us, and how to get a hold of us.

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You can be strange but not a stranger

Point missed by a HUGE margin here, folks.

The point was:

Though I didn't feel that things were done up to a good standard, the bottom line was that the people in THAT venue were having a good time and kept coming back.

Therefore, "Different strokes for different folks". What he did was apparently fine for that venue, and worked- whether I liked it or not.....

Point Defined: Keep an open mind, don't knock others because they do what works for them, even if we disagree with how they do it. That was the only reason for the OP.

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

Oops, Sorry Joe.
Fighting a 103 degree fever here and missed the point totally.

I agree, different circumstances all around.

I have seen shows where the locals loved it but I would not frequent the show if I lived there. Only if there were no other game in town. But as long as the regulars in the place enjoy it that is all that matters.

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Mongo ain't exactly a "who," he's more of a "what".

I disagree. Joe ended his post with " There really is no wrong or right, just different!"

When you see a crap show, it's CRAP. The customers may just be USED to such an occurance, as they shrug their sholders and say "its only karaoke".

I take pride in what I do, and the shows I go to. If it's good, I admit it. If it's not, I say it's NOT!

There’s probably right and wrong way or a good and bad way to do a show. Just like anything else it depends on whose rules you apply. I think I have the best sound and show in west Tennessee and so do a lot of other people. But does that make it so? I think it does. But I’m sure there’s some dummy around here that thinks they can do it better than me. So yeah, "Just Goes To Show"

Knight, I thought it was crappy too, but so what? HIS customers, at HIS venue ( he's apparently been there a few years) LIKED IT.
That being the case, THOSE people may notlike what we consider a quailty show. Therefore, HIS show was being run exactly as it should have been for those people.

In that situation, crap worked for him. So, to repeat, different strokes....

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"No Contests, No Divas, Just A Good Time!"

" Disc based and loving it..."

The show I was yappin' with Ollie about is the kind I'm talking about.

Host knew NOTHING about mixing. The song would shut off with a snap. Then there was uncomfortable blank sound after she calls the next singer. The graphics were junk, the sound field worked fine for mix music (which she did only when someone wasn't singing. i.e. a Dance set), but there was horrid mic control. And myself, my wife, and JW and his wife were the ONLY ones that seemed to notice.

So yes, it IS crap. THe owner was raving about it, and we were just thunderstruck.

I asked them how many songs she had, and the owner said "Oh, about 17 thousand." And the book was MAYBE fifty pages wide, Cavs system, no manu codes...

I told her I was happy it worked for her, but I was accustomed to a more professional ran show, and the owner smiled and nodded and walked away.

They don't care to appeal to shows like I want, because the bottom dollar is the other tables of drunks that were there.

Yup ive been to private parties in full basements where the system was better than a lot of those in the bars. You help them put it together and next they are competing with you.

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